Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
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— 234 —<br />
It was <strong>the</strong> first th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g he had said that made me respect him.<br />
I asked him what had led him to <strong>the</strong> discovery.<br />
He said: “We’ve forgotten <strong>the</strong> balls!”<br />
I looked for my hat; it was ly<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g topsy-turvy <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> middle<br />
of <strong>the</strong> path, and E<strong>the</strong>lbertha’s favourite hound was swallow<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
<strong>the</strong> balls as fast as he could pick <strong>the</strong>m up.<br />
“He will kill himself,” said Ebbs<strong>on</strong> — I have never met him<br />
s<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ce that day, thank <strong>the</strong> Lord; but I th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>k his name was Ebbs<strong>on</strong><br />
— “<strong>the</strong>y are solid steel.”<br />
I said: “I am not troubl<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g about <strong>the</strong> dog. He has had a bootlace<br />
and a packet of needles already this week. Nature’s <strong>the</strong> best<br />
guide; puppies seem to require this k<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d of stimulant. What I<br />
am th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>k<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g about is my bicycle.”<br />
He was of a cheerful dispositi<strong>on</strong>. He said: “Well, we must put<br />
back all we can f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d, and trust to Providence.”<br />
We found eleven. We fixed six <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e side and five <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r, and half an hour later <strong>the</strong> wheel was <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> its place aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
It need hardly be added that it really did wobble now; a child<br />
might have noticed it. Ebbs<strong>on</strong> said it would do for <strong>the</strong> present.<br />
He appeared to be gett<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g a bit tired himself. If I had let him,<br />
he would, I believe, at this po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>t have g<strong>on</strong>e home. I was determ<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ed<br />
now, however, that he should stop and f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ish; I had<br />
aband<strong>on</strong>ed all thoughts of a ride. My pride <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> mach<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e he<br />
had killed. My <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terest lay now <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> see<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g him scratch and<br />
bump and p<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ch himself. I revived his droop<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g spirits with a<br />
glass of beer and some judicious praise. I said:<br />
“Watch<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g you do this is of real use to me. It is not <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
your skill and dexterity that fasc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ates me, it is your cheery<br />
c<strong>on</strong>fidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> yourself, your <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>explicable hopefulness, that<br />
does me good.”<br />
Thus encouraged, he set to work to refix <strong>the</strong> gear-case. He<br />
stood <strong>the</strong> bicycle aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>st <strong>the</strong> house, and worked from <strong>the</strong> off<br />
side. Then he stood it aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>st a tree, and worked from <strong>the</strong> near<br />
side. Then I held it for him, while he lay <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground with<br />
his head between <strong>the</strong> wheels, and worked at it from below, and<br />
dropped oil up<strong>on</strong> himself. Then he took it away from me, and